Women's team calls USA Hockey's info 'patently false'

The U.S. women's hockey team dismissed its governing body's latest claims in a pointed statement Friday night.

"USA Hockey has issued a press release with patently false information about the status of its negotiations with the players of the women's national hockey team," the players fired back, via TSN's Bob McKenzie.

"The players are disheartened by the response, which fails to distinguish between funds from the U.S. Olympic Committee and funds from USA Hockey."

Management released a long FAQ-style statement earlier Friday, detailing what it claims are the differences between what the players are asking for and what it's providing.

U.S. team member Hilary Knight piled onto the players' official response, lobbing another shot at the governing body.

"There's a reason why we haven't won a(n Olympic) gold medal in 20 years," Knight told Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. "They need to step up. Who does USA Hockey aspire to be?"

Related: Hilary Knight tweets 3-letter word after USA Hockey's lengthy statement

The players' latest reply alleges USA Hockey only offers financial support during a six-month period surrounding the Olympics, and that the organization pays the players "virtually nothing" outside that time frame.

"Noticeably absent from USA Hockey's press release is a breakdown of what it has offered the players for its commitment during the 3.5 years out of the Olympic period," the latest retort reads. "The players encourage the public to seek clarity on this issue."

It also points out that USA Hockey disregards the non-Olympic period while expecting women's national team members to train on their own time and play in tournaments like the upcoming World Championship, which the players are threatening to boycott if significant progress in negotiations over wages doesn't occur.

Training camp for the upcoming tourney begins Tuesday, and the tournament opens March 31 in Plymouth, Mich.